Join me in a 2026 retirement countdown

[loveawineloveacrisp]

Next year is the year I'm going to hang up my corporate boots and retire and I can't wait. I'll be 57 and I want to finish just before Christmas, none of that arguing over who's going to cover the Christmas period nonsense.

Not really sure when I should let my boss know. I'm on 3 months notice so I guess that's plenty of time.

Anyone care to join me in a countdown?

Thanks, @BG2015 . I'm a bit scared of supply, to be honest! I was considering maybe nannying for a few years. Granny nanny if you will.

I was reluctant too but I’ve found it quite fun. I only teach EYFS to Y2 and only 2-3 days a week.

I didn’t want a ‘job’ as such where I have a boss and have to ask for time off as o want to holiday when I choose.

Great thread op!

I'm retiring in 17 to 25 months. I've been saving towards this for nearly 20 years, and fixed my retirement dates a good 10 + years ago. Sometimes when I have a really tough day at work I comfort myself by going over my sums - this is my word doc of what I'll need and what I've got so far, various savings, and what gets taxed, etc.

I don't know when I'll tell people. I want them to be prepared (been there 20 years) but I also don't want to string then along, so I can't say until I'm sure but I think they need and deserve a heads up.

I don't want a leaving do. I don't like big loud events, and my team is huge and I don't want people who don't really know me to come along or feel obliged to attend. I'll do something small.

Like some of you I plan to retire without plans. I do have hobbies and interests, but I'll want a good stint of sleeping in and getting my basic health in better shape. I'll want to follow my nose for a while. If I make a commitment to something it will come after, and out of, that initial restful period of watching trees dancing in the wind.

@dudsville I’m also planning to retire without plans. People however keep asking me quite insistently what I plan to do. I’ve started telling people I’m going to have a geriatric gap year….Except I won’t be inter railing round Europe or building orphanages/digging wells. Watching trees dancing in the wind is much more up my street

"Geriatric gap year". Is fabulous @damekindness !

Someone told me the other day that I could do volunteer work. I hadn't been fretting about what I'll do and I hadn't asked for suggestions. I think there's a discomfort with free time. For most of us, we've had to hit the ground running and then maintained that for decades. It can be uncomfortable for some the notion of doing very little.

My Dad retired in the last few years. He sold up bought a little camper van, and travels, follows his nose, stays for a while wherever the weather might be nice in a pretty spot, drops by to say hi to family and friends, but he has no plans beyond the next few weeks and the weather map. It's inspiring.

There is definitely a need for people to tell you what you should do with your time. It might be selfish but I don't intend to do volunteer work either. Why would I want to work for free? No thanks.

I agree, there are some really great organizations that it could possibly be interesting to be a part of, but I don't intend to.

I have clear ideas about what I want to do and all are about me. I have worked in the public sector all my life, including 20 years of teaching. I have done enough good deeds, when I retire I intend to be selfish.

I can’t wait. Might buy a lottery ticket, see if I can win some cash and leave earlier.

Anyone self employed in this group?

I am 60 this year and no plans to retire. I’ve nearly run my business 20yrs and I work 5-10 hours a week ordinarily.

I would to not have the stress but hold out a little hope I might sell it and the income is good.

Final countdown, 25 working days remaining, getting very real now. Like others, no plans, lots of little DIY jobs in the house and garden want to do, but are going to take 2-4 weeks of nothingness and pace ourselves with jobs before we get into a routine. Lots more time for playing golf and walking the dogs during daylight hours, will not miss going out on wet, dark mornings with the dogs.

I just can't get myself into the headspace to do it - everyone (family & friends ) is telling me I should stop & that I don't need to work anymore however I can't get past that fear from all those years where we struggled financially. I think it is also that I am not ready to having caring being my only responsibility & to not have an outlet from that.
I don't know how to move forward other than to carry on working & increase my financial security

@Retiringplans could you not go part time, maybe in another job?

I'm having a slight wobble this week. May carry on into the early part of next year to get another year's bonus into my pension pot.

@Retiringplans I was in exactly your position - someone told me that worry about finances rooted in previous experiences in having a low income was called ‘The long tutelage of poverty’. I have been pushed into retirement due to redundancy and it did help me be a little more clear eyed about income. Putting the numbers into a spreadsheet was helpful and then thinking about what I really needed in terms of income helped me see retirement was feasible. My income will drop by around half but it’s doable - and I’ll have the gift of time and freedom while I can enjoy it.

I've been retired for 6 months now. I was worried about money so I've been doing some supply teaching just a couple of days a week. Partly to give me some structure to my week ms partly to boost my teachers pension as I wasn't sure how the finances would pan out.

My DP is still working but we downsized before I retired so there's no mortgage or debt. My income has halved but I'm managing fine.

@BG2015 Enjoy your retirement. I've heard it takes a while to realise you have retired before you can actually slow down.

Well it's 1st March so that's 2 of 12 months done!

I have one day left - next week then I’m done. I already do a small amount of voluntary work because I enjoy it but it’s only once a month, I plan on doing one day a week somewhere that aligns with my hobby and because I’m worried about not interacting with many people.

I was thinking about this thread today because I'm so fed up. I spend so much time in bed now and just being quiet because I need a break from everything in order to have the energy to do the job. I did actually buy a lottery ticket last week, which I never do. It's just such a grind. And although I'm still conscientious, I just don't feel I'm as good at my job anymore. As if there's no hunger driving me on. Because of the nature of my work, the final 6 months will be a gradual but definite wind down, so I'm holding on to that. Twelve more months of the grind, then a wind down, surely I can do that? The lottery though... How nice would that be.

@dudsvilleI know the feeling, I have no enthusiasm left and I only started this job a year ago! The shine has worn off and I just feel jaded.

A windfall would definitely be nice!

I would say "only 10 more months" @loveawineloveacrisp but I know how long that feels!

Time goes so fast. It's 12 months since I applied for retirement, filled that form in and clicked send. Here I am now 6 months into retirement. It's flown.

It's so hard not to wish parts of the year away (I was guilty of this last year) but it will fly by.

I spend so much time in bed now and just being quiet because I need a break from everything in order to have the energy to do the job

I find I had to priortise rest rather than live my life, meet friends, have hobbies because work is so draining. Pension went down due to uncertainty and it feels scary to give up salary for a pot that might decline.

I’ve just been made redundant, so forced into retirement. Leave at end of March with redundancy pay for a few months.
I feel both mild trepidation and relief too.

Redundancy can be such a shock, I can imagine for mixed feelings. Embrace the good things and give yourself time to rest and relax.

Thanks.
Yes, not unexpected but still feels odd.
And given the current dire job situation I suspect this is it, I’ll retire.
I think April is a good month to begin, already browsing some local activities .